大气增温对杉木幼树根系生物量的影响

为揭示亚热带杉木人工林地下生物量对全球变暖的响应,本研究以杉木幼树为研究对象,在福建三明森林生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站利用开顶式(OTC)大气增温模拟气候变暖,研究增温对杉木幼树根系生物量的空间分布和不同径级分配的影响。结果表明：增温处理后总根系生物量、总细根生物量及总粗根生物量较对照均无显著差异;与对照相比,增温处理显著降低20～50 cm土层的细根生物量占比与0～10 cm土层的粗根生物量占比,但显著提高20～50 cm土层的粗根生物量占比;其余土层细根生物量和粗根生物量较对照均无显著差异;与对照相比,增温处理后0～2、2～5、5～10、10～20和>20 mm径级根系生物量均无显著变化。因此,增温处理下杉木幼树通过降低表层粗根生物量的占比,提高深层粗根生物量的占比以固定和支撑杉木生长,同时通过降低深层细根生物量的占比来维持表层细根生物量以保证水分和养分的吸收;大气增温影响根系生物量的垂直分布和不同径级的分配,在一定程度上影响地下碳分配,可能导致碳循环过程发生改变。     

模拟氮沉降对中亚热带杉木幼树根系生物量的影响

植物根系是全球陆地生态系统碳储量的重要组成部分,在全球生态系统碳循环中起着重要作用,日益加剧的氮沉降会影响根系生物量在空间和不同径级的分配,进而影响森林生态系统的生产力和土壤养分循环。以杉木幼树为研究对象,通过野外氮沉降模拟实验,研究氮沉降四年后对不同土层、不同径级根系生物量的影响。结果发现：（1）低氮和高氮处理总细根生物量较对照均无显著差异（P > 0.05）,高氮处理粗根生物量及总根系生物量较对照分别增加45%和40%（P < 0.05）;（2）与对照相比,施氮处理显著增加20-40 cm与40-60 cm土层细根和粗根生物量,且在低氮处理下,20-40 cm土层细根、粗根在总土层细根与粗根生物量的占比显著提高。（3）与对照相比,高氮处理显著增加了2-5 mm、5-10 mm及10-20 mm径级的根系生物量,低氮处理显著增加2-5 mm、5-10 mm径级根系生物量,且显著降低20-50 mm径级根系生物量。综上所述表明：氮沉降后杉木幼树通过增加较粗径级根系来增加对养分及水分的输送,同时通过增加深层根系生物量及其比例的策略来维持杉木幼树的快速生长;而根系生物量的增加,在一定程度上会增加根系碳源的输入,影响土壤碳循环过程。     

青藏高原东部高寒灌丛生物量分配对模拟增温的响应

植物生物量分配特征的变化反映了不同环境条件下植物的适应策略,全球气候变暖正在改变青藏高原高寒生态系统植被动态和生物量分配格局。然而,到目前为止,有关青藏高原高寒灌丛生物量分配特征对气候变暖的响应研究较少。为了探究气候变暖对高寒灌丛生物量分配的影响,以青藏高原东部典型的窄叶鲜卑花高寒灌丛为研究对象,分析了高寒灌丛灌木层、草本层和群落水平生物量分配特征对开顶式生长室（OTC）模拟增温的响应。研究结果表明：整个生长季节,模拟增温使空气温度和表层土壤温度分别升高0.6℃和1.2℃,使表层土壤水分含量下降2.7%。模拟增温使草本层和群落地上生物量显著增加57.8%和7.2%,使灌木层、草本层和群落根系生物量显著增加42.5%、105.6%和45.6%。然而,模拟增温没有显著影响灌木层地上生物量。同时,模拟增温使灌木层、草本层和群落总生物量显著增加25.6%、85.7%和28.4%,使灌木层、草本层和群落根冠比显著增加33.2%、30.4%和36.0%。由此可见,模拟增温在促进高寒灌丛生物量生产的同时将显著提高向地下根系部分的分配比例。Pearson相关分析表明,高寒灌丛生物量分配与空气温度、土壤温度和土壤硝态氮含量呈显著正相关关系;多元线性回归分析结果也表明,空气温度、土壤温度和土壤硝态氮含量解释了高寒灌丛生物量分配变异的50.8%以上。这些结果表明,青藏高原东部高寒灌丛植被能够通过调节生物量分配模式应对未来气候变暖。     

温度与降水协同作用对短花针茅生物量及其分配的影响

采用人工气候箱法模拟研究温度变化(对照、增温1.5、2.0、4.0、6.0℃)、降水变化(W-30%、W-15%、对照W0、W+15%、W+30%)(以1978—2007年6—8月的月均温和月均降水量为对照)及其协同作用对内蒙古荒漠草原优势种短花针茅生物量及其分配的影响表明:温度和降水协同作用显著影响短花针茅生物量及其分配。增温使短花针茅总生物量、叶和根生物量增加,茎生物量和根冠比分别在在增温1.5℃、4℃后随增温而减小。干旱高温使总生物量减小,增温和降水增加使总生物量、根和叶生物量增加,茎生物量在增温小于2℃时随降水增加而增加,则适当的增温和增加降水可促进短花针茅生物量的积累。短花针茅的各器官生物量分配对温度和降水协同作用的敏感性为茎生物量比叶生物量比根生物量比,最敏感性器官为茎。这表明,短花针茅可根据不同器官生物量对水热变化的敏感性,调节干物质累积分配来适应气候变化。     

施氮对几种草地植物生物量及其分配的影响

为了研究施氮对不同草地植物生物量及其分配的影响,以及温带草地生态系统碳交换过程对氮素的响应,在内蒙古太仆寺旗农田-草地生态系统野外站,以4种草地植物:紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)、高丹草(Sorghum bicolor L.) 、羊草(Leymus chinensis T.)和小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylia L.)为材料,进行了3种氮素水平 的盆栽控制实验。研究结果表明:施氮显著促进了4种植物地上生物量的积累,紫花苜蓿在中氮水平地上生物量最大,较对照增加了24.8%,高丹草、羊草、小叶锦鸡儿在高氮水平地上生物量最大,分别较对照增加了45.6%、39.3%和72.2%。4种植物在中氮水平地下生物量最大,而细根(直径≤2mm)生物量随施氮量的增加显著减少。羊草根茎生物量及其分配比例随施氮量的增加而增大。施氮显著降低了4种植物的根冠比,紫花苜蓿的根冠比在中氮水平时最小,为1.62,高丹草、羊草、小叶锦鸡儿的根冠比在高氮水平时最小,分别为0.57、1.02和0.41。随施氮量的增加,植物地下部分特别是细根的分配比例显著降低,地上部分分配比例显著增加。不同植物对施氮水平的响应不同,相比豆科植物,施氮显著促进禾本科植物生物量积累,并使其生物量分配格局发生显著改变。     

土壤增温调节中亚热带森林更新初期植物生物量分配格局

全球变暖提高了温带森林生态系统植物的生产力,但对亚热带森林生产力的影响仍然不清楚。由于亚热带森林植物的碳储量巨大,因此了解全球变暖对亚热带森林植物生长的影响至关重要。采用加热电缆模拟土壤增温(+5℃),探讨中亚热带森林几种主要草本植物和木本植物的生长及其生物量分配格局对温度升高的响应。结果表明:增温显著增加五节芒(Miscanthus floridulus)、山油麻(Trema dielsiana)和东南野桐(Mallotus lianus)的高度,但黑莎草(Gahnia tristis)高度显著降低。增温显著增加木本植物的地上、地下和总生物量,而草本植物的地上、地下和总生物量均显著降低。增温对整个群落的地上和地下部分生物量分配模式无显著影响,但木本植物总生物量在各器官之间分配随温度发生改变,增温显著提高木本植物枝生物量比(BMR),降低干生物量比(SMR),而叶生物量比(LMR)和根生物量比(RMR)无显著影响,但显著降低了细根占总根系生物量比率。结果表明木本植物能够通过调节生物量分配模式应对未来全球气候变暖。     

增温及隔离降水对杉木幼树细根生物量、形态及养分特征的影响

为揭示全球变暖和降水格局改变对我国中亚热带地区森林生态系统地下生态过程的影响,在福建三明森林生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站内开展杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)幼树土壤增温和隔离降水双因子试验,研究增温和隔离降水在夏季对杉木幼树细根生物量、形态及养分特征的影响。结果表明,增温(+5℃,W)、隔离降水(–50%,P)和增温+隔离降水(WP)处理的细根总生物量分别比对照(CT)显著降低35.7%、51.7%和59.1%,P和WP处理的细根总生物量分别比W处理显著降低24.9%和36.4%;W、P和WP处理的0~1 mm细根比根长(specific root length,SRL)比对照均显著增加,而0~1和1~2 mm细根比表面积(specific root area,SRA)均无显著变化;与对照相比,W处理的细根N含量、C/N和δ¹⁵N均无显著变化,P处理的细根N含量和C/N分别显著增加和下降,WP处理的细根N含量和δ¹⁵N显著增加,而C/N显著降低。因此,未来在全球变暖和降水减少的双重环境胁迫下,调整表层细根形态特征可能不是杉木幼树的主要应对策略;而相较于温度升高,降水减少可能是影响杉木幼树细根生物量及表层化学元素分配的主要环境因子。     

土壤增温对杉木幼苗细根生理生态性质的影响

为了揭示我国最重要人工林树种杉木对全球变暖的地下响应及其适应性,通过在福建省三明市陈大国有林场设置杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)幼苗土壤增温实验(增温+5℃和不增温两个处理,各5个重复),用土钻法和内生长环法探讨土壤增温约1年后的杉木幼苗细根生物量和形态特征(比根长,SRL;比表面积,SRA),化学计量学特征(C、N、P)和代谢特征(包括呼吸和非结构性碳水化合物,NSC)的变化。结果表明:1)与对照相比,土壤增温处理0—1 mm细根生物量显著下降,1—2 mm细根生物量没有变化,细根形态亦未有显著变化;2)土壤增温处理细根N浓度显著增加,细根P浓度没有显著变化,细根C/N显著降低而N/P显著增加;3)土壤增温处理细根呼吸没有出现驯化现象,细根NSC显著下降。可见,土壤增温改变了杉木细根生物量分配格局,并引起一定的营养失衡和代谢失衡现象,从而对杉木生长和生产力产生影响。     

采用稳定碳同位素法分析白羊草在不同干旱胁迫下的水分利用效率

本研究以黄土高原乡土草种白羊草(Bothriochloa ischaemum(L.)Keng.)为研究对象,采用盆栽控制实验,比较白羊草在3个水分处理(CK80%FC、MS60%FC和SS 40%FC)下的生物量积累和分配模式、瞬时水分利用效率(WUE)、不同部位(新叶、老叶、茎、细根、粗根)的稳定碳同位素组成(δ~(13)C)和碳同位素分辨率(Δ~(13)C)及其相互关系,以及干旱胁迫下影响水分利用效率的主导环境因子。结果表明:1)重度干旱胁迫显著降低植物整体生物量,显著增加根冠比和细根生物量比例;2)随着干旱胁迫加剧,白羊草各器官的δ~(13)C均呈上升趋势,Δ~(13)C呈减小趋势,SS处理不同器官δ~(13)C和Δ~(13)C没有显著差异,CK和MS处理的各器官δ~(13)C均值表现分别为细根粗根老叶新叶茎、细根新叶老叶粗根茎,CK和MS处理Δ~(13)C的值总体呈根叶茎。3)新叶的δ~(13)CNL和Δ~(13)CNL与WUE的相关系数均最大,说明利用稳定碳同位素方法测定白羊草水分利用效率具有可行性。4)不同水分处理的WUE的主导影响因子不同,CK、MS、SS水分处理WUE分别受到叶面温度、大气水汽压亏缺和空气温度的影响最大。为采用稳定碳同位素方法指示白羊草水分利用效率可行性及阐明植物的胁迫响应机制提供理论依据。     

增温对青藏高原高寒草原生态系统碳交换的影响

碳交换是影响草地生态系统碳汇功能的关键过程,对气候变暖极为敏感。青藏高原分布着大面积的高寒草原,其碳汇功能对气候变暖的响应对区域碳循环过程具有重要的影响。为探究高寒草原生态系统碳交换过程对增温的响应,2012—2014年,在青藏高原班戈县进行了模拟增温对高寒草原生态系统碳交换过程影响的研究。结果表明,增温对高寒草原碳交换各组分的影响存在年际差异,但总体上对碳交换存在负面影响。3年平均结果显示,增温显著降低了高寒草原地上生物量、总生态系统生产力(GEP)、生态系统呼吸(ER)和净生态系统碳交换量(NEE)(P0.05),平均降幅分别为15.1%、36.8%、19.2%和51.5%。增温条件下3年平均土壤呼吸(SR)较对照无显著变化(P0.05),但2013年增温显著降低了SR(P0.05),降幅达18.1%。增温对SR与ER的比值具有一定的促进作用,最高增幅达到40.0%。GEP、ER、SR和NEE与土壤温度和土壤水分无显著相关(P0.05),而GEP、ER和NEE与空气温度呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05)。增温引起的干旱胁迫以及地上生物量降低是导致高寒草原NEE降低的主要原因。研究表明,全球变暖会一定程度降低青藏高原高寒草原的碳汇功能。     

青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统草本层生物量分配格局

青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统生物量分配的研究相对较少,尤其是其草本层。为了探究高寒灌丛生态系统草本层生物量分配特征及其影响因素,分析了青藏高原东北部灌丛生态系统的49个高寒灌丛样地的草本层地上与地下生物量特征及其气候因子之间的关系。结果表明1)草本层地上生物量与地下生物量分别为121.1,342.8 g/m2均大于高寒草地的地上生物量与地下生物量。2)草本层的根冠比为3.6低于高寒草地的根冠比。3)地上生物量与地下生物量之间呈现幂函数的关系y=8.0x0.83(R2=0.48,P0.001)。4)根冠比与年均温度、年均降雨量之间没有显著的相关关系。     

Effects of nitrogen enrichment on root exudative carbon inputs in Sibiraea angustata shrubbery at the eastern fringe of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Aims Understanding the responses of root exudative carbon (C) to increasing nitrogen deposition is important for predicting carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, fewer studies have investigated the dynamics of root exudation in shrubbery ecosystems compared to forests and grassland ecosystems. This objective of this study was to determine the effects of nitrogen fertilization on the rate and C flux of root exudates.Methods Three levels of nitrogen addition treatments were applied to a Sibiraea angustata shrubbery ecosystem situated at the eastern fringe of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, including N₀ (without nitrogen application), N₅ (nitrogen addition rate of 5 g·m^-2·a^-1), and N₁₀ (nitrogen addition rate of 10 g·m^-2·a^-1), respectively, in 5 m ´ 5 m plots. Root exudates were collected in June, August and October of 2015, using a modified culture-based cuvette system. Root biomass in each plot was measured with root core method.Important findings The rates of root exudates on biomass, length, and surface area basis all displayed apparent seasonal variations during the experimental period, with the magnitude ranked in the order of: August > June > October, consistent with changes in soil temperature at 5 cm depth. With increases in the nitrogen addition rate, the rate of root exudates on biomass, length, and area basis all trended lower. Compared with the control (N₀), the N₅ and N₁₀ treatments significantly reduced fine root biomass in the Sibiraea angustata shrubbery, by 23.36% and 33.84%, respectively. The decreasing root exudation and fine root biomass in response to nitrogen addition significantly decreased C flux of root exudates. Our results provide additional evidences toward a robust theoretical foundation for better understanding soil C-nutrient cycling process mediated by root exudation inputs in Alpine shrubbery ecosystems under various environmental changes.     

Estimation of biomass allocation and carbon density of Rhododendron simsii shrubland in the subtropical mountainous areas of China

Aims As an important potential carbon sink, shrubland ecosystem plays a vital role in global carbon balance and climate regulation. Our objectives were to derive appropriate regression models for shrub biomass estimation, and to reveal the biomass allocation pattern and carbon density in Rhododendron simsii shrubland.
Methods We conducted investigations in 27 plots, and developed biomass regression models for shrub species to estimate shrub biomass. The biomass of herb and litterfall were obtained through harvesting. Plant samples were collected from each plot to measure carbon content in different organs.
Important findings The results showed that the power and linear models were the most appropriate equation forms. The D and D²H (where D was the basal diameter (cm) and H was the shrub height (m)) were good predictors for organ biomass and total biomass of shrubs. All of the biomass models reached extremely significant level, and could be used to estimate shrub biomass with high accuracy. It was more difficult to predict leaf and annual branch biomass than stem biomass, because leaf and annual branch were susceptible to herbivores and inter-plant competition. The mean biomass of the shrub layer was 20.78 Mg·hm^-2, in which Rhododendron simsii and Symplocos paniculata biomass accounted for 93.63%. Influenced by both environment and species characteristics, the biomass of the shrub layer organs was in the order of stem > root > leaf > annual branch. The root:shoot ratio of the shrub layer was 0.32, which was less than other shrubs in subtropical regions. The relative higher aboveground biomass allocation reflected the adaptation of plants to the warm and humid environment for more photosynthesis. The mean total community biomass was 26.26 Mg·hm^-2, in which shrub layer, herb layer and litter layer accounted for 79.14%, 7.62% and 13.25%, respectively. Litter biomass was relatively high, which suggested that this community had high nutrient return. There were significant correlations among aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and total biomass of shrub layer and herb layer. The mean biomass carbon density of the community was 11.70 Mg·hm^-2 and the carbon content ratio was 44.55%. The carbon density was usually obtained using the conversion coefficient of 0.5 in previous studies, which could overestimate carbon density by 12.22%.     

Increased temperature and precipitation interact to affect root production,mortality, and turnover in a temperate steppe: implications for ecosystem C cycling

Fine root production and turnover play important roles in regulating carbon (C) cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. In order to examine effects of climate change on root production and turnover, a field experiment with increased temperature and precipitation had been conducted in a semiarid temperate steppe in northern China since April 2005. Experimental warming decreased annual root production, mortality, and mean standing crop by 10.3%, 12.1%, 7.0%, respectively, while root turnover was not affected in 2006 and 2007 by the warming. Annual root production and turnover was 5.9% and 10.3% greater in the elevated than ambient precipitation plots. Changes in root production and mortality in response to increased temperature and precipitation could be largely attributed to the changes in gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and belowground/aboveground C allocation. There were significant interactive effects of warming and increased precipitation on root productivity, mortality, and standing crop. Experimental warming had positive and negative effects on the three root variables (root production, mortality, standing crop) under ambient and increased precipitation, respectively. Increased precipitation stimulated and suppressed the three root variables in the unwarmed and warmed subplots, respectively. The positive dependence of soil respiration and ecosystem respiration upon root productivity and mortality highlights the important role of root dynamics in ecosystem C cycling. The nonadditive effects of increased temperature and precipitation on root productivity, mortality, and standing crop observed in this study are critical for model projections of climate–ecosystem feedbacks. These findings indicate that carbon allocation is a focal point for future research and that results from single factor experiments should be treated with caution because of factor interactions.     

异质养分环境中一年生分蘖草本黍根系的生长特征

为揭示黍（Panicum miliaceum L.)根系对异质养分环境的生长反应,作研究了黍根系从起始斑块向目标斑块水平生长时,时始斑块和目标斑块养分水平根生长的影响,就低养分起始珏块而言,粗根生物量,粗根长度,粗根表面积和细极长度在高养分目标斑块中的分配比例均小于其在低养分目标斑块中的分配比例,而细根长度及其密度,细根表面积指及其密度的变化恰好相反,就高养分起始斑块而言,高养分目标斑块的细根长度,细根长度密度,细根表面积指数和细根表面积密均不于低养分目标斑块,而粗根对目标斑块中养分状的反应不明显。当黍根系从桢的起始斑块进入不同的目标斑块后,目标斑块的养分状况对细根生物量及其分配无影响,而显影响细根长度和表现积,这指示细根是通过长度和表面积可塑性而不是生物量变化响应目标斑块中的养分差异。     

Root Growth of the Annual Tillering Grass Panicum miliaceum in Heterogeneous Nutrient Environments (in English)

To study growth responses of the roots of Panicum miliaceum L. to heterogeneous supply of nutrients. The authors analyzed the effects of the nutrient levels in both original patches (O) and destination patches (D) on the root growth of P. miliaceum when its roots were allowed to extend from original patch into destination patch. When the nutrient levels in the original patches were low, coarse root biomass ratio (coarse root biomass in the D/total coarse root biomass), coarse root length ratio (coarse root length in the D/total coarse root length), coarse root surface area ratio (coarse root surface area in the D/total coarse root surface area) and fine root length ratio (fine root length in the D/total fine root length) were greater in the destination patches with lower nutrient levels than in the destination patches with higher nutrient levels, while fine root length, fine root length density, fine root surface index, and fine root surface area density were smaller in the former than in the latter. When the nutrient levels in the original patches were high, fine root length, fine root length density, fine root surface area index and fine root surface density were greater in the destination patches with lower nutrient levels than in the destination patches with higher nutrient levels, coarse roots did not respond to the nutrient levels in the destination patches significantly. When the roots extended from the original patches with the same nutrient level into the destination patches with contrasting nutrient levels, fine root biomass and its percentage allocation did not respond to the nutrient levels in the destination patches significantly, whereas both root length and root surface area did. This indicates that the fine roots of P. miliaceum responded to difference in nutrient supply by plasticity in their length and surface area, rather than in their root biomass.     

Adjustment of Forest Ecosystem Root Respiration as Temperature Warms

Adjustment of ecosystem root respiration to warmer climatic conditions can alter the autotrophic portion of soil respiration and influence the amount of carbon available for biomass production. We examined 44 published values of annual forest root respiration and found an increase in ecosystem root respiration with increasing mean annual temperature (MAT),but the rate of this cross-ecosystem increase (Q10 = 1.6) is less than published values for short-term responses of root respiration to temperature within ecosystems (Q10 = 2-3). When specific root respiration rates and root biomass values were examined, there was a clear trend for decreasing root metabolic capacity (respiration rate at a standard temperature) with increasing MAT. There also were tradeoffs between root metabolic capacity and root system biomass, such that there were no instances of high growing season respiration rates and high root biomass occurring together. We also examined specific root respiration rates at three soil warming experiments at Harvard Forest, USA, and found decreases in metabolic capacity for roots from the heated plots. This decline could be due to either physiological acclimation or to the effects of co-occurring drier soils on the measurement date. Regardless of the cause, these findings clearly suggest that modeling efforts that allow root respiration to increase exponentially with temperature, with Qt0 values of 2 or more, may over-predict root contributions to ecosystem CO2 efflux for future climates and underestimate the amount of C available for other uses,including net primary productivity.     

氮添加对中国陆地植被地上-地下生物量分配的影响

大气氮沉降水平持续升高导致的外源氮输入增加,强烈影响了陆地生态系统的碳循环。目前,已有大量报道证实了氮沉降升高对全球陆地植被固碳的积极影响。虽然之前大部分研究将这一结果归因于光合作用增强导致的地上生物量增加,但最近的研究发现长期氮添加对植物地下根系的影响也同样重要。归纳整理了181篇公开发表的我国野外模拟氮沉降试验结果,采用整合分析(Meta-analysis)方法,定量评估了氮添加对我国陆地植被地上-地下生物量分配的影响特征和不同生态系统类型及施氮方式之间的影响差异。通过分析地上-地下生物量分配对氮添加的响应差异来探究植被碳增益对长期大气氮沉降增加的潜在响应机制。结果表明,氮添加显著增强了我国陆地植被的光合作用及碳固存,且植物碳增益在不同生态系统类型及施氮制度间有所差异。植物叶片的氮含量显著增加,使得叶片碳氮比及凋落物碳氮比显著降低,但并未显著影响细根的碳氮比。氮添加总体上显著提高了植物的净光合速率,但降低了光合利用效率。地上生物量,凋落物产量和根生物量平均分别显著增加了38%,17%和18%,总体上植物地上部分对氮添加的响应程度比地下部分更高。然而,不同生态系统类型的地上-地下生物...     

Changes in fine root biomass of Picea abies forests: predicting the potential impacts of climate change

Aims The impact of global warming on belowground processes, especially on fine root production, is poorly understood in comparison with its aboveground counterpart.Methods Here, we compiled 227 measurements to assess the influence of temperature and precipitation on fine root biomass of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) forest ecosystems in the Eurasia boreal region.Important findings We found that fine root biomass decreased significantly with latitudes. There was a biomass increase of 0.63 Mg ha^-1 and 0.32 Mg ha^-1 for fine roots <2 and <1 mm in diameter, respectively, with 1°C increase of mean annual temperature. There was an increase of 0.5 and 0.1 Mg ha^-1 per 100 mm year^-1 precipitation for the two size classes of fine roots. If the adaption of root production can match the pace of global warming and water is not a limiting factor for plant growth, fine root biomass would be expected to increase by 40–140% in response to the predicted increase in temperature (3–10°C) over the next century. Our analyses highlighted the strongly positive influences of temperature and precipitation on belowground function, suggesting that predicted future climate change could substantially enhance belowground biomass in the boreal region where the greatest warming is anticipated. This potential increase of belowground biomass, coupled with aboveground biomass, may provide a better understanding of climate–ecosystem feedbacks.